The SRU have made a last-ditch bid to convince WP Nel to stay at Edinburgh as they look to fend off interest from France.

The tighthead prop, who makes his comeback after four months out with a neck injury in the European Challenge Cup match against Harlequins on Saturday, has attracted interest from Top 14 giants Clermont Auvergne and Toulon.

The SRU have come up with an improved offer of their own, however, in the belief he may be reluctant to move his young family abroad.

WP Nel returns to action this weekend after four months out with a neck injury

Share this article

While it does not match the £400,000 a year reportedly on the table from the clubs in France, they are hopeful it will persuade the South African-born star to extend his contract.

Acting Edinburgh head coach Duncan Hodge said negotiations about extending Nel' s contract had begun and he was hopeful the 30-year-old would remain.

'There is interest in WP but he is an important part of this team and an important part of Scottish rugby and we would love to keep him at the club,' said Hodge.

'He is one of those guys who does command interest from clubs in Europe. We have a pot of money, though, and it is how we and the SRU manage that money. He is a player we would love to keep and hopefully we can do that.'

There has been a considerable amount of interest from Clermont Auvergne and Toulon

Nel's return to action could not come at a better time for Edinburgh. A win over Harlequins at The Twickenham Stoop will leave them with the relatively straightforward task of beating Timisoara Saracens at Myreside in their final Challenge Cup game to make the knock-out stages.

His return is also a boost for the national team, with Nel set to be named in Scotland's Six Nations squad due to be announced by Vern Cotter on Wednesday.

'WP is ready to come back, which is a boost for everyone,' said Hodge. 'In terms of the way he has played for Scotland over the past couple of years, if he gets fit and proves himself you would think he had a very good chance of making the Six Nations.

'It may take a few games for him to get back to his best but he has been able to do a lot of training and he has not been rushed back.

'He is an important member of our pack and has proved that at international level and of course you do miss international players like him when he is not with us at Edinburgh.

'Having him available again is good for us as this is a must-win game because we know if we do that we are in an incredibly strong position to qualify by winning our final match at Myreside.'

Hodge does not expect there to be a similar try-fest to that which broke out the last time the sides' met, with 11 tries being scored. Edinburgh grabbed six, with the final score from Tom Brown securing a thrilling 36-35 victory.

'It was a nice dry day and we got some space but I don't expect so many tries to be scored tomorrow,' said Hodge.

'They had all their big names playing that day, there was a big crowd and we got a great result but it will be a different game European away from home.

'The last match between the teams was an open, fluid and attack-focused affair but we're two months down the line from then and weather conditions in January could play a big part in the return leg and the tactics adopted.'

The return of Nel is one of four changes made to Edinburgh's starting XV following from their win over Zebre on Hogmanay.

Hamish Watson, who this week signed a new two-year deal with the club, returns to the back row, Phil Burleigh returns at inside-centre and Brown starts on the left wing.